Equalization of dispersion in single-mode fibers

Optical pulse equalization in single-mode fibers using positive and negative chromatic dispersion has been demonstrated by Lin et al. [Opt. Lett. 5, 476 (1980)]. In this paper, an earlier theory of pulse propagation in single-mode fibers is extended to the case of a tandem arrangement of N fibers with different dispersive properties. The theory includes first- and second-order dispersion. It is shown that, by using fibers with positive and negative chromatic dispersion, the first-order dispersion term cancels out on average.